|
|
|
Tui or Mangrove trumpet tree
Dolichandrone spathacea
Family Bignoniaceae
updated
Jan 2013
Where seen? Several of these beautiful trees have been
replanted at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Pulau Ubin and our coastal
parks. According to Ng, it is confined to the back-mangrove zone and
banks of tidal rivers and estuaries. The trees at Changi Point, Pulau
Sakeng and sluice gates of Sungei Jurong were destroyed with recent
development. According to Hsuan Keng, it was formerly common along
our tidal rivers including Punggol, Bajau, Pulau Ubin, Pulau Tekong
and Tanjung Gul. According to Corners, it is considered common in
Malaya. According to Tomlinson, it has the widest range of the Dolichandrone
and frequently found in the back mangroves which are flooded at the
highest tides. Typically, it grows in swampy or beach communities
such as dunes or on river banks.
Features: A shrub or tree that
grows to 5-20m tall. Old trees have massive trunks that are fluted
at the base. Trunk cylindrical, short and often crooked. Bark grey
to dark brown, shallowly ridged and fissured, slightly scaly.
Compound leaves made up of 2-4 pairs of leaflets eye-shaped (6-20cm
long) thin arranged opposite one another. Generally 3 pairs of leaflets
with a leaflet at the tip. Young leaves are slightly pinkish and somewhat
sticky. At times the tree may be nearly leafless.
Flowers trumpet-shaped large (15-20cm long) white delicate with ruffled
edges, in clusters of 2-10 flowers. The flowers in the cluster bloom
one at a time and according to Corners "very fragrant" while
Tomlinson describes it as "a pervasive scent". According
to Hsuan Keng, the flower opens in the early morning and closes at
noon, but according to Corners, it blooms at dusk and the flower drops
off at sunrise or earlier, while Tomlinson says they bloom in the
early evening and the flower usually lasts for only one day. According
to Tomlinson, nectar accumulates copiously at the base of the trumpet
tube. Suggestions for pollinators include very long-tongued moths
(Corners), long-tongued 'nocturnal animals' probably hawk moths (Tomlinson).
Apparently, no pollinators have been observed so far. Self pollination
also occurs.
Pods long curling bean-like (25-60cm long) and contain many seeds.
The pods are green at first, turning brown. The seeds resemble small
rectangular wheat biscuits; they are pale white to beige, small (about
1.5cm) flat, rectangular to square, with a corky wing. They float
readily and are probably dispersed by water and not wind.
Human
uses: According to Burkill, the wood is light and thus
was prefered by the Javanese for making saddles. It is also used in
floats for fishing nets and for wooden shoes in the Philippines. According
to Giersen, it is used as firewood, and also for making traditional
'wayang kulit' (shadow puppet) masks in Indonesia. Tea brewed
from the leaves are used to treat mouth infections.
Status and threats: It is listed
as 'Critically Endangered' on the Red List of threatened plants of
SIngapore. |
Planted
tree near natural mangroves.
Pulau Ubin, Jul 09
Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Mar 09
Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Feb 10
|
Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Feb 09
|
Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Mar 09
|
Trumpet
shaped flower.
Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Mar 09
|
Seeds
look like wheat biscuits.
Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Feb 09
|
Opened
pods.
Pulau Ubin, Jul 09
|
Unopened
pod.
Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Feb 09
|
Mangrove
trumpet trees on Singapore shores |
Links
References
- Hsuan Keng,
S.C. Chin and H. T. W. Tan. 1990, The
Concise Flora of Singapore: Gymnosperms and Dicotyledons.
Singapore University Press. 222 pp.
- Tan, Hugh
T.W. and T. Morgany. 2001. Growing
the Native Plants of Singapore. BP Science Centre Guidebook.
168pp.
- Tomlinson,
P. B., 1986. The
Botany of Mangroves
Cambridge University Press. USA. 419 pp.
- Corners,
E. J. H., 1997. Wayside
Trees of Malaya: in two volumes.
Fourth edition, Malayan Nature Society, Kuala Lumpur. Volume 1:
1-476 pp, plates 1-38; volume 2: 477-861 pp., plates 139-236.
- Davison,
G.W. H. and P. K. L. Ng and Ho Hua Chew, 2008. The Singapore
Red Data Book: Threatened plants and animals of Singapore.
Nature Society (Singapore). 285 pp.
- Burkill,
I. H., 1993. A
Dictionary of the Economic Products of the Malay Peninsula.
3rd printing. Publication Unit, Ministry of Agriculture, Malaysia,
Kuala Lumpur. Volume 1: 1-1240; volume 2: 1241-2444.
|
|
|